Knitted flat double paneled article and method of producing same

ABSTRACT

Two flat panels are knitted at the same time by the use of a single pair of knitting needles. A knitted bar having a unique structure is formed for various uses. The individual panels are formed by the use of alternate single knit and purl stitches using separate continuous lengths of yarn respectively to form each type of stitch. By the continuous alternating arrangement, separate panels are knitted at the same time in order to produce the material for the article desired.

United States Patent [191 [11] 3,807,200 Liwski 1' Apr. 30, 1974 [54] KNITTED FLAT DOUBLE PANELED 2,833,134 5/1958 Gin 66/177 ARTICLE AND METHOD OF PRODUCING 2,795,260 6/ 1957 Perry 150/37 SAME 2,546,623 3/1951 Abler 150/11 3,013,597 12/1961 Moran 150/11 [76] Inventor: Henrietta M. Liwski, Rt, 1, Box 2,565,283 8/1951 Throckmorton 150/11 1144: Reedville, v 22539 3,587,698 6/1971 Ritter 150/35 [22] Filed: 1972 Primary Examiner-Ronald Feldbaum [21] Appl' 29 ,150 Attorney, Agent, or FirmMarkva & Smith [52] us. Cl. 66/170 [57] [51] Int. Cl D04b 21/00 Two flat panels are knmed at the Same by the use of Search u l A Of a single pair Of knitting needles. A knitted bar hav- 66/17l 130/1 ing a unique structure is formed for various uses. The v individual panels are formed by the use of alternate [56] References Cited single knit and purl stitches using separate continuous lengths of yarn respectively to form each type of UNITED STATES PATENTS stitch. By the continuous alternating arrangement, 167,563 9/1875 Polle et a1 66/1 A separate panelsare knitted at the same time i order 3 2x1 5; et 23 to produce the material for the article desired. 2,687I525 8/1954 Rutledge 66/176 X 10 Claims, 10 Drawing Figures Biz-307L200 PATENTEDAPR 30 m4 SHEET 1 BF 2 FIG. 3

F/G. 3A

l KNITTED FLAT DOUBLE PANELED ARTICLE AND METHOD OF PRODUCING SAME BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention is directed to a method of knitting flat knitted panels at the same time and knitted articles made by said method. It is, more specifically, directed towards the knitting and formation of a flat knitted article having two panels connected alone one or more edges.

In the past, it has been commonplace to knit articles so as to form the individual panels of the article separately. When the desired size of the panels has been completed, the panels are then attached or bound together into a complete article. Usually these articles are of the wearing-apparel type such as hat, scarf, carrying bag, etc. In forming an article of this nature, the method of knitting the individual panels at separate times requires additional time to complete due to the fact that it is necessary to count stitches so that the exact number of stitches is maintained to provide identical panels. The panels must be identical so that when they are bound together along their edges, the completed article will be symmetrical.

It has also been known in the prior art to knit an article of round configuration or shape by the use of at least three or more needles at the same time to provide a continuous panel. Various armholes, sleeves, and attachments must be provided during the knitting operation to accomplish a desired article. Knitting in this fashion is a rather complicated operation and requires the concentrationof advanced capabilities in knitting. Various lengths of yarn are used during the multipleneedle knitting and must be kept separated and free from tangling during the operation. In the formation of a bag-type article with the round type knitting, it has been a problem to sew or gather one end of the article in order to form a smoothly joined surface that has a neat appearance.

PURPOSE OF THE INVENTION The primary object of the invention is to provide a method of knitting an article having a neat and desirable appearance in a quick and easy manner.

Another object of the invention .is to provide a knitted bag having a unique structure formed by the method disclosed herein.

A further object is to provide a simple knitting operation wherein a beginner is capable of knitting a flat article having two panels at the'same time. In this way, the article may be completed in a minimum amount of time with only an understanding of the basics of knitting.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an article wherein several colors of yarn may be knitted together in a pleasing appearance. These colors may be intermixed inany pattern desired in either one or both of the panels. 7 i

A further object of this invention is to provide a knitted article having a rather complicated structure by means of only a single pair of knitting needles.

Another object of this invention is to provide a method of forming any article comprising two flat panels by knitting with the use of only a single pair of knitting needles.

- SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION As described herein,two flat panels are knittingly opened and closed at its top. FIG. 2 shows the bag 10 joined together along one edge and completed to any desired size using a single ,pair of knitting needles. Other edges may be connected to each other in various ways such as binding, sewing, drawstrings, buttons, and the like.

To accomplish the method of knitting in accordance with this invention, a first separate length of yarn is positioned in front of the knitting needles and a second length of yarn is positioned behind the knitting needles. Alternate knit and purl stitches using the respective separate yarn lengths areperformed in a continuous manner throughout the entire knitting operation. Consequently, the two panels are formed separately and distinctly from each other, being joined only at the bottom edge where the knitting of the panels was started.

A knitted bag made in accordance with this invention includes two side panels joined at the. bottom and sewed along the side edges thereof. At the top of each of the panels, a tubular portion is formed in the same manner as the original two panels of the bag were formed. That is, two more panels are started at the top of eachof the original panels and the two opposing sides of the tubular portions are formed simultaneously in accordance with the method of the invention. The tubular portions are knittingly closed off around the top edge of the bag to form the completed article. Drawstrings are then laced through the tubular portions and extend outwardly from'the openings in the tubular portions to provide a means for opening and closing the bag.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS Other features of this invention will appear in the following description of appended claims, reference being made to the accompanying drawings'forming a part of the specification wherein like reference characteristic designate corresponding parts in the several views.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a drawstring-type article made in accordance with this invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the article shown in FIG. 1 with the top opening closed by means of the drawstrings;

FIG. 1A is a sectional view taken along the line l-l of FIG. 1 and shows the double panel construction of the article of FIG. 1

vFIG. 3 is a diagramatic perspective view of an article being knitted in accordance with this invention;

FIG. 3A is a'sectional view taken along the line IIII of FIG 3 showing joined double panels suspended from a single needle;

, FIGS. 4through 8 are diagramatic views showing the steps of knitting the article using alternate stitches according to the method of this invention.

DESCRIPTION OF SPECIFIC EMBODIMENTS edge. Drawstrings 18 and 19 are passed through the tubular portions 16 and 17 to enable the bag 10 to be closed at thetop edge after the drawstrings l8 and 19 have been pulled in opposite directions with respect to each other.

The'facing surfaces 23 and 24 of the panels 11 and 12, respectively, have the same type of knitted surface. Likewise, the outer surfaces 25 and 26 of the panels 11 and 12, respectively, also have the same type of knitted surface with respect to each other. The type of surface found on the inside surfaces 23 and 24 is opposite from the type of surface found on the outer surfaces 25 and 26. That is, the purl side of the knitted material would be found on the inside surfaces 23 and 24 and the knit side of the knitted material would beseen on the outer surfaces 25 and 26. This structural configuration of the inner and outer surfaces results upon the formation of the knitted article 10 in accordance with the method of this invention.

In this specific embodiment, the bag 10 is sewn along the edges and the material is then turned inside out exposing the purl side of the material to the outside of the bag. Thus, a more finished and pleasing appearance both from the surface of the knitted material and the bound edges is provided. It is understood, however,

that the knitted side of the panels may be exposed if desired. It may be possible that fringes or decorative bindings may be formed along the edges of the bag 10.

The method of this invention used to form the two flat panels 1 1 and 12 of the article 10 is described hereinbelow. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 3A, the two panels 11 and 12 are interconnected at 15 during the first line of knitting. Thereafter, the two panels 11 and 12 are formed at the same time but in separate and vdistinct layers of material by knitting alternate stitches in a continuous fashion. 7

As shown in FIG. 3, two panels 11 and 12 are suspended from a single knitting needle 20. The panels have been started from a first row of stitches formed at the bag bottom 15. Thus, as shown in the drawings, a first knitted flat panel 11 is composed of at least one continuous yarn length and a second knitted panel 12 is composed of at least one continuous second yarn length.

Alternate stitch loops 21 and 22 are disposed around the single knitting needle 20. These loops alternate and are formed by making opposite or reversed stitches to provide the desired separation between the panels 11 and 12. Separate and continuous lengths of yarn 27 and 28 are joined together during the first knitting step and are used alternately to form the stitches 21 and 22, respectively. A single pair of knitting needles is used to form the separate and distinct panels 11 and 12 during the knitting operation.

The various steps necessary to initiate and perform the method of knitting in accordance with this invention are shown in FIGS. 4 through 8. A length of continuous yarn 27 is cast on to the needle 20 which is one of a pair of needles and is used to form a completed straight first row of any desired number of knitting stitches 21a. The total number of stitches 21a determines the width of the finished article being knitted. After the desired number of stitches 21a has been formed, the length of continuous yarn 27 is permitted to hang freely from the last stitch 29 formed on the me to the length of yarn 27 itself at a location adjacent to the loop 29. V

In this specific embodiment, the end of the second yarn '28 is attached directly to the last stitch 29 as shown in FIG. 5. Subsequently, the second needle 31 is inserted through the end loop or first stitch 29 from right to left and pointed upward behind the first needle 20. The second length of continuous yarn 28 is cast in back and around the tip of the second needle 31. The yarn comes forward to the right, between the needles. Needle 31 slides down, .under and back left of yarn 28 thereby pushing yarn 28 forward causing it to fall off the needle 20 forming knitted stitch 32. Yarn 28 forms the new loop 32a on needle 31 as shown in FIG. 6.

' The right-hand or second needle 31 is next inserted through the second stitch 33 from the right to the left placing the needle 31 in front of the needle 20. The first length of yarn 27 is then looped behind and around the tip of the second needle 31. The tip of the'second needle 31 is then withdrawn backwardly through the loop 33. When loop 33 slides off the tip of the needle 20, a reversedknitted stitch, commonly referred to as a purl stitch 34, is formed as shown in FIG. 8.

A second knit stitch is formed by again passing the second needle 31 upwardly through the third loop on needle-20 as shown in FIG. 8. In this position, the second needle31 is behind the first needle 20. The end of the second yarn 28 is passed behind and around the tip of the second needle 31. The second needle 31 is then drawn back through the loop 21a which is drawn off. the tip of the first needle 20. In this manner, a third loop is formed on the second needle 31 which uses the second yarn 28.

1 As can be seen, the stitches alternate, not only being first a knit stitch then a purl stitch, but the knit stitches are formed by use of the second yarn 28 while the purl stitches are formed by use of the first yarn 27 All of the stitches are bound together in a continuous chain within the first row of stitches. In this manner, the two halves or separate panels 11 and 12 of the knitted article are joined together along one edge thereof and being useful in providing an open knit configuration. In summary, it is shown that the first, third, fifth, seventh, etc. stitches are knit stitches and the second, fourth, sixth, eighth, etc. stitches are purl stitches; It is understood that it is possible to reverse this order so that a purl stitch is made first, with a knit stitch made subsequently. It is only necessary that the stitches be alternated through the entire knitting operation.

After all of the cast-on stitches are removed from the first needle 20, the needles change hands and the operation is repeated again usingtherespective alternating stitches to form a second row, a third row, a fourth row,

etc., until the desired length of the knitted panels has been obtained. As the knitting method of this invention is performed, two separate panels 11 and 12 are formed as shown in FIG. 3. At the completion of the last row of stitches, the alternate stitches are removed separately to holding needles. Consequently, the edges of the individual panels 11 and 12 are separated with the individual knitted loops retained. If the article being formed is a scarf, the edges of the individual panels may be bound off by the usual knitted binding procedure.

If a footlet type article is desired, the side edges may be bound off knitted style or finished in tubular fashion so that a drawstring or another material such as rubber 27 .can be made either to the last stitch or loop 29 or may be inserted. This'method is described in the making of the flat bag. The ends of the footlet may be sewed or woven together. Once the edges have been connected, the articlemay be turned inside out thereby providing a finished and heat-appearing garment suitable for footwear.

As indicated hereinabove, the tubular portions 16 and 17 may be formed at the top edge of each panel 11 and 12 by knitting in accordance with the method described hereinabove. That is, the stitches at the upper edge of one of the panels 11 or 12 are removed from the holding needle back to one of the knitting needles. When transferring the stitches to the knitting needle, the needle is inserted at the back of the row in order for the continuous yarn to beat the tip of the needle. In 1 most cases the holding needle can be pulled out of the stitches and the needle inserted at one time without losing stitches. Another separate yarn is added and with the two continuous yarns, the tubular section is made by alternately using the knit and purl stitch as de scribed. The separate or third continuous length of yarn is tied to the last knitted loop or at a location adjacent thereto. The alternate stitch procedure is then performed using the two separate lengths of yarn to form the alternate stitches in a similar manner to that shown in FIGS. 6, 7 and 8.

After approximately six or eight complete rows have been knitted, the alternate stitches are bound off together by conventional knitting methods to join the upper edges thereby forming the tubular portions. Once the tubular portions 16 and 17 have each-been formed at the top edge of the panels 11 and 12, respectively, the entire top edge 42 may be formed in any conventional manner. The panels 40 and 41 have been knitted at the same time on one needle along the-top edge of the panel 12 as shown in FIG. 1A. Thus, as shown and described herein, each tubular portion is composed of the continuous yarn length of each panel on one side thereof and a further continuous yarn length on the other side thereof. The further continuous yarn length is connected to each panel at a location intermediate the joined edges of the panels and the outer edges of each panel.

Many types of knitted articles may be fabricated by the method of this'invention. Two separate flat panels are formed simultaneously to fabricate two portions of any article during a single operation. For example, a scarf may be formed by knitting two halves thereof at the same time. The center of the scarf joins the two halves together at the time of starting'the knitting operation. Knitting is continued until one-half of the total length has been completed and the edges located along the needles are then bound off. When the two panels are spread or opened, the full-length scarf is readily apparent. Thus, when an even number of stitches are used, both halves of the scarf will have the identical number of stitches in length and width. The scarf has been formed in a very simple and efficient manner thereby providing an economical way to produce articles having a fiat configuration forming at least a portion thereof.

closed on three sides is thereby provided. It is clear that any type or color of yarn may beused to form articles madein accordance with this invention. It is further noted that a plurality of lengths of yarns may be used to form stitches alternately in place of the use of the single lengths of yarn 27 and 28. In other words, a single panel may be formed with two or more different colors of yarn. Furthermore, interesting stitch formations may be formed through the use of a plurality of yarns as is conventionally known in the knitting art.

While the knitted flat double paneled article and method of producing same have been shown and described in detail, it is obvious that this invention is not to becon'sidered as being limited to the exact form disclosed, and that changes in detail and construction may be made therein within the scope of the invention, without departing from the spirit thereof.

Having thus set forth and disclosed the nature of this invention, what is claimed is:

1. A method of knitting comprising:

a. casting from a first continuous length of yarn a plurality of stitches on a first single knitting needle to form a completed straight first row of stitches,

b. attaching the end of a second continuous length of yarn to said first length of yarn adjacent to the end stitch of said first row closest to the point of the first needle,

c. knitting the plurality of stitches in said first row from said first needle onto a second knitting needle by alternating a single knit or purl stitch with the second yarn on one needle and then a single stitch of the opposite type using the first yarn on the other needle,

d. continuing the alternate knit and purl stitches until all stitches have been removed from the first needle,

e. .knitting in alternate knit and purl stitch fashion from one needle to the other until the desired number of knitted rows is completed thereby forming separate flat panels useful in providing an open knit configuration, and

f. binding off the last row of stitches on each holding needle so as to produce a fiat knitted article.

2. A method of knitting as defined in claim 1 wherein the binding off step includes placing the knit and purl stitches on separate holding needles and reversing the order of stitches from one of the holding needles to a knitting needle, i

a third continuous length of yarn is tied at a point adjacent to the last stitch on said knitting needle,

the stitches from said needle are knitted in alternate knit and purl fashion using respective yarn lengths,

repeating the alternating knitting step from oneneedle to the other to form a desired number of knitted rows, and

binding off the knit and purl stitches to join the two thicknesses together to form a flat tubular strip along the edge of the panel.

'3. A method of knitting as defined inclaim 2 wherein I a flat tubular portion is formed on the edge of each panel of the article. 4. A method of knitting as defined in claim 3 wherein the knitted material is reversed before binding the edges so that the adjacent surfaces of the material are exposed. 5. A method of knitting as defined in claim 3 which includes,

binding opposite edges of the panels adjacent to said joined edge, and i threading a drawstring in Sequence through said tubular top sections whereby the open edge may be drawn closed by said drawstring.

6. A method of knitting as defined in claim 1 wherein the panels are bound together along opposite edges adjacent to said joined edge so as to form a flat knitted article closed on three sides.

7. A method of knitting as defined in claim 1 wherein during the knitting of alternate stitches, the second yarn for the first stitch is fed from the back side of the needles, and the first yarn for the second stitch. is fed from the front side of the needles. 8. A method of knitting two flat panels at the same time on a single pair of knitting needles comprising:

stitches and the other set of stitches being composed of purl stitches, and d. knitting in alternate knit and purl'stitch fashion from one needle to the other until the desired number of knitted rows is completed to form separate fiat panels interconnected at said first row of stitches.

9. A knitted article of manufacture comprising:

a. a first knitted flat panel composed of at least one continuous first yarn length, and

b. a second knitted panel composed of at least one continuous second yarn length,

c. said first and second knitted panels being knittingly connected along one edge thereof to form a first side of said article,

d. each panel including a tubular portion located at the upper edge thereof opposite said first side of the article,

e. the side edges of the panel being connected to each other so that the tubular portion extends along the periphery of an opening in said article,

f. each tubular portion being composed of the continuous yarn length of each panel on one side thereof and a further continuous yarn lengthen the other side thereof connected to each panel at a location intermediate said connected one edge and said outer edge of each panel,

g. said continuous yarn length of each panel and said further continuous yarn length 1 being bound off along said outer edge of each panel.

10. A knitted article as defined in claim 9 wherein a draw string is disposed through the tubular portion to form a bag that may be opened and closed. I 

1. A method of knitting comprising: a. casting from a first continuous length of yarn a plurality of stitches on a first single knitting needle to form a completed straight first row of stitches, b. attaching the end of a second continuous length of yarn to said first length of yarn adjacent to the end stitch of said first row closest to the point of the first needle, c. knitting the plurality of stitches in said first row from said first needle onto a second knitting needle by alternating a single knit or purl stitch with the second yarn on one needle and then a single stitch of the opposite type using the first yarn on the other needle, d. continuing the alternate knit and purl stitches until all stitches have been removed from the first needle, e. knitting in alternate knit and purl stitch fashion from one needle to the other until the desired number of knitted rows is completed thereby forming separate flat panels useful in providing an open knit configuration, and f. binding off the last row of stitches on each holding needle so as to produce a flat knitted article.
 2. A method of knitting as defined in claim 1 wherein the binding off step includes placing the knit and purl stitches on separate holding needles and reversing the order of stitches from one of the holding needles to a knitting needle, a third continuous length of yarn is tied at a point adjacent to the last stitch on said knitting needle, the stitches from said needle are knitted in alternate knit and purl fashion using respective yarn lengths, repeating the alternating knitting step from one needle to the other to form a desired number of knitted rows, and binding off the knit and purl stitches to join the two thicknesses together to form a flat tubular strip along the edge of the panel.
 3. A method of knitting as defined in claim 2 wherein a flat tubular portion is formed on the edge of each panel of the article.
 4. A method of knitting as defined in claim 3 wherein the knitted material is reversed before binding the edges so that the adjacent surfaces of the material are exposed.
 5. A method of knitting as defined in claim 3 which includes, binding opposite edges of the panels adjacent to said joined edge, and threading a drawstring in sequence through said tubular top sections whereby the open edge may be drawn closed by said drawstring.
 6. A method of knitting as defined in claim 1 wherein the panels are bound together along opposite edges adjacent to said joined edge so as to form a flat knitted article closed on three sides.
 7. A method of knitting as defined in claim 1 wherein during the knitting of alternate stitches, the second yarn for the first stitch is fed from the back side of the needles, and the first yarn for the second stitch is fed from the front side of the needles.
 8. A method of knitting two flat panels at the same time on a single pair of knitting needles comprising: a. casting a first set of stitches from a first yarn length on a first knitting needle to form a completed straight first row of stitches, b. attaching a second yarn length to the first set of stitches and casting a second set of stitches onto a second knitting needle so that said second set is connected to said first set with the stitches in each set being alternated with respect to each other, c. one of the set of stitches being composed of knit stitches and the other set of stitches being composed of purl stitches, and d. knitting in alternate knit and purl stitch fashion from one needle to the other until the desired number of knitted rows is completed to form separate flat panels interconnected at said first row of stitches.
 9. A knitted article of manufacture comprising: a. a first knitted flat panel composed of at least one continuous first yarn length, and b. a second knitted panel composed of at least one continuous second yarn length, c. said first and second knitted panels being knittingly connected along one edge thereof to form a first side of said article, d. each panel including a tubular portion located at the upper edge thereof opposite said first side of the article, e. the side edges of the panel being connected to each other so that the tubular portion extends along the periphery of an opening in said article, f. each tubular portion being composed of the continuous yarn length of each panel on one side thereof and a further continuous yarn length on the other side thereof connected to each panel at a location intermediate said connected one edge and said outer edge of each panel, g. said continuous yarn length of each panel and said further continuous yarn length being bound off along said outer edge of each panel.
 10. A knitted article as defined in claim 9 wherein a draw string is disposed through the tubular portion to form a bag that may be opened and closed. 